# Dr. Sunil Puria Promoted to Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery August 24, 2026 ![Dr. Puria headshot](/sites/g/files/omnuum8391/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-08/Dr.%20Puria%20headshot.jpg?itok=ZSNX1vBi) [Sunil Puria, PhD,](https://oto.hms.harvard.edu/people/sunil-puria) Amelia Peabody Scientist in the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories at Mass Eye and Ear and Director of Admission for the Doctoral Program in Harvard Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, has been promoted to Professor of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Puria directs the OtoBiomechanics Group within the Eaton-Peabody Laboratories, where his research focuses on the fundamental and applied mechanics of the cochlea and middle ear. His work seeks to advance our understanding of auditory function through mathematical models grounded in realistic anatomy and material properties. Over the course of his career, he has developed innovative approaches that integrate finite element modeling, laser Doppler vibrometry, and advanced imaging technologies, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), two-photon microscopy, and micro-CT. An internationally recognized expert in imaging, physiology, and biomechanics of hearing, Dr. Puria leverages advanced modeling and imaging techniques to uncover fundamental insights into the sensory structures of the cochlea that enable the remarkable sensitivity and precision of human hearing. His work also explores the evolutionary forces that contributed to the development of the mammalian middle ear. More recently, his laboratory has been working on using computational models of the auditory nerve to pioneer the development of machine learning approaches for diagnosing cochlear nerve degeneration. Standard methods have been challenging to use, and his students are training advanced deep neural network models to enhance hearing-aid technology. Before joining Mass Eye and Ear, Dr. Puria held dual appointments at Stanford University as Consulting Associate Professor in the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Otolaryngology and served as Chief Scientist of EarLens Corporation. He has authored more than 80 peer-reviewed publications and holds over 60 issued patents. Throughout his career, Dr. Puria has played a significant leadership role in the hearing research community. He co-chaired the 2009 Middle Ear Mechanics in Research and Otology (MEMRO) meeting at Stanford University, served on the NIH Auditory Sciences (AUD) Study Section for the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), and was a member of the editorial board of the Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (JARO). He also co-chaired the 2017 International Mechanics of Hearing Symposium in Canada. He is the Specialty Chief Editor for the Auditory Science Section of the Frontiers in Audiology and Otology Journal, and an Associate Editor for the Acoustical Society of America. Dr. Puria, who served as the past President of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO) from 2024 to 2025, currently holds the position of standing Chair for the biennial International Hearing Aid Conference (IHCON). Dr. Puria was also one of the founding team members of EarLens Corporation, established in 2005. He helped lead the scientific and technological development of the company's novel light-driven hearing aid technology and served as principal investigator on several Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants funded by the NIDCD. EarLens received FDA 510(k) clearance for commercialization of its technology in September 2015. The Earlens light-based hearing aid was recognized as one of the “Best Inventions of 2020” by Time Magazine. Dr. Puria earned his bachelor's degree from The City College of New York, master’s degree from Columbia University, and PhD from the City University of New York, all in Electrical Engineering. Much of his doctoral research was conducted at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey. He subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Please join us in congratulating Dr. Puria on this well-deserved promotion and recognition of his outstanding contributions to hearing science, innovation, and education. Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)